Material collection system

ABSTRACT

Automatic collection of bulk materials such as garbage, mail, etc., by use of a plurality of pivotally supported collection receptacles, each having an open top and one opening normally closed by a pivoted closure. The collection receptacles are emptied into a transfer receptacle passed under each container by a truck to open the pivoted closure so that material in the collection receptacle falls into the transfer receptacle. When the transfer receptacle is full, it is elevated and tilted to place the contents in the truck.

United States Patent Inventors de Cordova M. Brady 508 Quincy, Plainview, 79072; Kenneth R. Willcox, 3611 Lenwood, Amarillo, Tex. 79109 Appl. No. 790,522

Filed Jan. 13,1969

Patented Apr. 27, 1971 MATERIAL COLLECTION SYSTEM 22 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs. us. 1:: 214/42,

- 214/77, 214/1465 1m. 01 B65g 67/22 Field ofSearch 214/42, 43,

302, 80, 303, 318; ZZO/(Inquired); 294/69 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,009,072 11/1911 Johnson 214/42 3,214,037 10/1965 Schindler et al. 214/42 Primary ExaminerAlbert J. Makay Assistant Examiner-George F. Abraham AttorneyRichards, Harris & Hubbard ABSTRACT: Automatic collection of bulk materials such as garbage, mail, etc., by use of a plurality of pivotally supported collection receptacles, each having an open top and one opening normally closed by a pivoted closure. The collection receptacles are emptied into a transfer receptacle passed under each container by a truck to open the pivoted closure so that material in the collection receptacle falls into the transfer receptacle. When the transfer receptacle is full, it is elevated and tilted to place the contents in the truck.

PATENTED APR27 I97! SHEET 1 BF 3 INVENTORS: de CORDO VA M. BRADY ATTORNEY MATERIAL COLLECTION SYSTEM This invention pertains to automatic material collection and more particularly to a system of fixed collection receptacles and vehicle-mounted transfer receptacle which transfers material from the collection receptacle to the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Bulk materials, such as garbage, mail, etc. are ordinarily collected from the receptacles containing the material by driving a'truck to each receptacle and then loading the contents of the receptacle into the truck either manually or by mechanically lifting and tilting the receptacle so that its contents falls into the truck. Such systems are inefficient because they require stopping the truck at each receptacle and further because they frequently require the use of one or more operators in addition to the truck driver for loading the material into thetruck. Accordingly, a need exists for a bulk material collection system that automatically removes bulk material from collection receptacles and may load the material onto a vehicle without stopping the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention there is provided a collection system including a collection receptacle having a normally closed discharge opening, a transfer receptacle for engaging the collection receptacle and for opening the discharge opening thereof so that the contents of the collection receptacle fall through the opening into the transfer receptacle and a transport container supporting the transfer receptacle for receiving the contents of the transfer receptacle.

In a more specific aspect of the invention, the collection receptacle is comprised of a container having an opening at the top and an openable side that is pivotally supported at the upper end and a door for the open side that is pivotally supported on the container. The transfer receptacle is supported on a truck and includes leading and trailing camming surfaces for pivoting the container away from the door and for reengaging the container with the door, respectively. When desired, the transfer receptacle is raised and tilted so that its contents fall into the truck.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pickup and transfer receptacle useful in practicing the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view showing the receptacle shown in FIG. I mounted on a truck and illustrating the dumping of the receptacle;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the receptacle shown in FIG. I mounted on a truck;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a portion of the mounting structure for the receptacle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a collection receptacle useful in practicing the invention;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the receptacle shown in FIG. 5;

FIGS. 7A-7D are sequential views showing the operation of a material collection system employing the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a second embodiment of the receptacle shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views. Referring particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a pickup and transfer receptacle 10 comprised of a bottom plate 12, a pair of sideplates 14 and 16, a rear plate 18 extending upwardly from the bottom plate 12 between the sideplates 14 and 16, and a front plate which slants upwardly and forwardly from the bottom plate 12 between the sideplates l4 and I6. Sideplates I4 and 16 are each provided with an upwardly and forwardly facing leading camming surface 22 and an upwardly and rearwardly facing trailing camming surface 24. A roller 26 is journaled between sideplates l4 and 116 at the leading end of the leading camming surfaces 22 and a sloping plate 28 extends between sideplates 14 and 16 from roller 26 to front plate 20. A pair of support brackets 30 are provided on sideplate 16 for supporting receptacle 10.

Referring now to FIG. 3, receptacle 10 is shown mounted on a truck 32 of the type including a cab 34 and a bed 36. Bed 36 preferably has an open top and may be mounted for actuation by hydraulic cylinders so that its contents are dumped from the rear of truck 32, if desired. In this embodiment of the invention, transfer receptacle I0 is mounted outboard of truck 32 by a support mechanism 38 positioned between the cab 34 and the bed 36 of truck 32. It should be understood, however, that the support mechanism for receptacle It} need not necessarily be positioned between cab 34 and bed 36 and may be positioned at any desired location on truck 32. Although only one receptacle l0 and support mechanism therefor are shown mounted on truck 32, it should be understood that a transfer receptacle 10 can be mounted on each side of truck 32, if desired.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, the details of the support mechanism 38 are shown. Support mechanism 38 is comprised of three hydraulic cylinders, 39, 40 and 41 which cooperate with pivoted linkages to control the position and attitude of receptacle l0. Cylinder 39 is connected between the ends of a pair of L-shaped brackets 42 and a pin 43 which extends from both sides of a traveling member 44 into a pair of grooves 45 formed in the L-shaped brackets 42. Two additional pins 46 and 47 extend from traveling member 44 into grooves 45 and a support arm 48 is pivotally connected to member 44 by pin 47. Cylinder 40 extends between member 44 and support arm 48. The position of arm 48 along the length of the grooves 45 is controlled by hydraulic cylinder 39 while cylinder 40 controls the pivotal position of support arm 48.

Transfer receptacle 10 is pivotally supported on a shaft 54 that extends rearwardly with respect to truck 32 from the end of support arm 48. Hydraulic cylinder 41 is connected between transfer receptacle l0 and a plate 56 which extends downwardly from the end of support arm 48. Cylinder 41 serves to control the angular positioning of the receptacle l0 with respect to the shaft 54.

In use, the lateral positioning of receptacle 10 with respect to truck 32 is controlled by hydraulic cylinder 39 which serves to move support arm 48 back and forth along the pivot-guiding grooves 45 in the L-shaped guiding brackets 42. The contents of receptacle 10 may be dumped into the bed 36 of truck 32 by operating hydraulic cylinder 39 to move member 44 and support arm 48 to their extreme extended positions, operating hydraulic cylinder 40 to pivot support arm 48 about pin 47 and operating hydraulic cylinder 41 to tilt transfer receptacle 10 by rotation on shaft 54. This action moves receptacle 10 from the position shown in full lines in FIG. 2 through the position shown in dash lines therein to the position shown in dotted lines. In addition to a dumping position, the dotted line position is also a convenient transport position for receptacle 10.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a collection receptacle 60 adapted for automatic unloading by the pickup and transfer receptacle 10 shown in FIG. I. In a preferred form collection receptacle 60 is rotatably mounted on a fixed support along a course to be followed by truck 32 automatically to transfer the contents of collection receptacle 60 to transfer receptacle 10.

More particularly, collection receptacle 60 preferably is supported on an L-shaped support bracket 62 having a horizontally extending arm 64 and a vertically extending arm 66 which extends into the ground or is otherwise rigidly anchored. A pair of pivot supports 68 extend from arm 64 and a pivot shaft 70 extends between the supports 68. Receptacle 60 preferably is a rectangularly shaped container 72 having a door 74, an open top 76, which may be covered by a suitable lid, if desired, and an open side 78 which is normally closed by door 74. A pair of camming surface engaging arms 80 extend from each side of container 72 at the lower end of its open side 78. Container 72 is pivotally supported on shaft 70 at the upper end of open side 78 and door 74 is also pivotally supported on shaft 70. Thus, when container 72 and door 74 of receptacle 60 are in the position shown in FIG. 6, door 74 engagesand closes the open side 78 of container 72 due to the weight of receptacle 60. In this position, container 72 and door 74 are retained in the position shown by arm 64 of bracket 62.

Referring now to FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D, the operation an automatic bulk material collection system employing the transfer receptacle 10 shown in FIG. 1 and the collection receptacle 60 shown in FIG. 5 is illustrated. Transfer receptacle l0 approaches receptacle 60 from the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 7A. As shown in FIG. 7B, roller 26 of receptacle 10 initially engages door 74 and initially pivots container 72 about pivot shaft 70 by pivoting door 74 about shaft 70. When roller 26 has passed under container 72 and door 74, both the container and the door slide up the sloping plate 28 until door 74 passes the front plate of receptacle 10, whereupon, as is shown in FIG. 7C, door 74 pivots into a vertical orientation under the action of gravity. Container 72, however, does not pivot into a vertical orientation but instead is maintained in a pivoted orientation by engagement of the leading camming surfaces 22 of receptacle 10 with the camming surface-engaging arms 80 of container 72.

Leading camming surfaces 22 continue to pivot container 72 about shaft 70 until anns 80 engage the upper surfaces of sideplates l4 and 16 which maintain container 72 in a tilted position while receptacle 10 passes under container 72. When plate 18 of receptacle 10 engages door 74, door 74 is cammed upwardly in the manner shown in FIG. 7D. At nearly the same time the trailing camming surfaces 24 of sideplates 14 and 16 engage arms 80 of container 72. The slope of surfaces 24 pivots container 72 downwardly about shaft 70 into engagement with door 74. Thus, as receptacle 10 moves out from under receptacle 60, container 72 and door 74 are interengaged and lowered into their initial position.

Although only one receptacle 60 is shown in the drawings, it should be understood that transfer receptacle 10 is designed to automatically collect material from a series of receptacles positioned, for example, along a course such as an alley or the like. Hydraulic cylinders 39, 40 and 41 of support mechanism 38 are operated to position transfer receptacle 10 for successive engagement with each receptacle 60 located along the truck course. Truck 32 may move continuously so that transfer receptacle 10 sequentially engages and unloads each receptacle 60 encountered in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 7A through 7D.

Whenever necessary, transfer receptacle 10 is raised and tilted so that its contents dump into bed 36 of truck 32 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2. In this manner, transfer receptacle 10 automatically unloads any desired number of receptacles 60 without stopping and without the use of any operator other than the driver of truck 32. If transfer receptacles 10 are mounted on both sides of truck 32, material may be automatically collected from both sides of a course at the same time.

Referring now to FIG. 8, an alternative structure 82 of the collection receptacle is illustrated. Structure 82 is comprised of a cylindrical container 84 having an open top and bottom. The bottom is normally covered by a dish-shaped door 86. Door 86 is pivotally supported on container 84 by a pair of arms 88 (only one of which is shown) which extend between door 86 and a pair of pivots 90 extending from the cylindrical container 84. Door 86 is provided with a stop 92 and a latch 94 which serve to normally retain door 86 in alignment with the open bottom of container 84.

In use, a transfer receptacle (not shown) is moved under structure 82 from the right side as viewed in FIG. 8. The leading edge of the transfer receptacle engages latch 94 of door 86, whereupon door 86 is pivoted into the position represented by the dashed line shown in FIG. 8. In this position, the contents of structure 82 are free to fall into the transfer receptacle through the open bottom of container 84.

After the transfer receptacle passes from beneath the structure 82, door 86 returns to the positionshown in FIG. 8 under the action of gravity, whereupon it is latched in that position by latch 94.

While specific embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are described in the foregoing specification, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to such embodiments but is capable of modification, rearrangement and substitution of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. A material collection system which comprises:

a. a material collection receptacle having material-receiving and material discharge openings,

b. means for pivotally supporting said receptacle above a surface with at least a predetermined minimum clearance between said receptacle and said surface,

0. a pivotally supported, normally closed door for said discharging opening,

d. a transfer receptacle for transferring material from said collection receptacle,

e. a transport unit supporting said transfer receptacle at the side thereof for causing said collection receptacle to traverse a path spaced from but parallel to the path of said transport unit,

f. means for moving said transfer receptacle beneath said collection receptacle and said door for transfer of material in said collection receptacle to said transfer receptacle, and

g. means for depositing the contents of said transfer receptacle into said transport unit.

2. The collection system according to claim 1 wherein said material-receiving and material-discharging openings of said collection receptacle comprise an open top and an open side of said receptacle, respectively, and wherein means on said transfer receptacle energize said collection receptacle as it passes under said collection receptacle to pivot said collection receptacle away from said door.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein said collection receptacle and door are pivoted about a common axis and wherein said door is normally closed by gravity.

4. The collection system according to claim 1 wherein leading and trailing camming surfaces on said transfer receptacle engage said collection receptacle and said door and disengage said door before disengaging said collection receptacle to empty said collection receptacle.

5. The collection system according to claim 1 wherein a transverse roller is mounted at the leading edge of the leading camming surface of said transfer receptacle for initially engaging the collection receptacle and for initially pivoting both the door and the receiving receptacle following which the leading camming surface restrains said receptacle and disengages said door.

6. The collection system according to claim 1 wherein the transfer receptacle is supported by three hydraulic cylinders, one for lifting the transfer receptacle, one for tilting the transfer receptacle and one for varying the lateral positioning of the transfer receptacle.

7. The collection system according to claim 6 wherein linkages couple said hydraulic cylinders to said transport unit and to said transfer receptacle to move the contents of the transfer receptacle into the transport unit by lifting and tilting the transfer receptacle above said transport unit to dump said transfer receptacle.

8. A material collection system including:

a. a vehicle for operation along a surface,

b. a transfer receptacle mounted on said vehicle for movement along a predetermined path,

c. means for normally supporting said transfer receptacle at the side of said vehicle and adjacent said surface,

d. means for elevating and tilting said transfer receptacle to dump material therein into said vehicle,

e. a pivotally supported collection receptacle positioned in the path of said transfer receptacle and having a dump 'port,

f. a pivotally supported door normally closing said port, and

g. means for pivoting said collection container to open said port and dump the contents into said transfer receptacle as said transfer receptacle engages said collection container during movement along said path.

9. The collection system according to claim 8 wherein said transfer receptacle includes structure for lifting said collection receptacle away from said door and for lowering the collection receptacle into engagement with said door upon disengagenrent with said transfer receptacle.

10. The collection system according to claim 9 wherein a transverse roller on said transfer receptacle initially engages said collection receptacle and said door initially to lift the said door with the receiving container.

11. The collection system according to claim 8 wherein means are provided for varying the position of said transfer receptacle laterally with respect to the vehicle.

12. A material collection system including:

a. a collection vehicle having a material transport container,

b. a material transfer receptacle mounted on the side of said vehicle and movable between a collection position and a dumping position whereat material is dumped from said transfer receptacle into said transport container,

' c. at least one material collection receptacle having a normally closed material dumping side,

. means for supporting said collection receptacle for engagement at said side by said transfer receptacle when said transfer receptacle is in said collection position, and

e. means on said transfer receptacle for opening said normally closed material dumping side of said collection receptacle upon engagement of said transfer receptacle with said collection receptacle.

13. The collection system according to claim 12 further including support means on said vehicle for normally supporting said transfer receptacle in said collection position and for elevating and tilting said container to said dumping position.

14. The collection system according to claim 12 wherein said opening means comprises a pair of camming surfaces on said transfer receptacle, one positioned to open said opening the dumping side of said collection receptacle upon engagement of said transfer receptacle and the other positioned to close said dumping side upon disengagement of said transfer receptacle and said collection receptacle.

l5.-The collection system according to claim 12 wherein said collection receptacle comprises a pivotally supported container having an open said and a pivotally supported door for said open side and wherein said door is normally closed by gravity.

16. The collection system according to claim 15 wherein said transfer receptacle includes leading and trailing camming surfaces, wherein said vehicle moves said transfer receptacle under said collection receptacle and wherein said camming surfaces on said transfer receptacle open and close said door of said collection receptacle as said transfer receptacle passes under said collection receptacle.

17. A material collection system which comprises:

a. a material container having one side pivotally mounted to open and close said side of the container,

b. means for pivotally mounting said container for pivotal movement about an axis in the region of the upper end of said container,

c. a carriage-mounted pickup receptacle adapted to engage said container and rotate the same about said axis to receive the contents of said container as they pass through said side,

d. a storage receptacle mounted for travel on said carriage,

and

e. means for elevating said pickup receptacle and for overturning the same to empty the contents thereof into said storage receptacle. 1 The combination set forth in claim 17 wherein said container is of rectangular configuration with one vertically oriented side being pivoted near the upper comer of the container on said axis.

19. The combination set forth in claim 17 in which said carriage-mounted pickup receptacle is provided with upper exposed cam surfaces and roller means for engaging said container to initially positioning said container at an angle before pennitting said side to open.

20. The combination set forth in claim 17 wherein said means for pivotally mounting said container supports said container with said upper end normally positioned at about waist level.

21. A material collection system including a transfer receptacle comprising a bottom plate, a pair of sideplates extending upwardly from said bottom plate and each having an upwardly and forwardly facing leading camming surface and upwardly and rearwardly facing trailing camming surface formed in it, a rear plate extending upwardly from said bottom plate between said sideplates, a front plate extending upwardly from said bottom plate between said sideplates, a roller journaled between said sideplates at the leading ends of the leading camming surfaces thereof and a sloping plate extending from said roller to said front plate along said leading camming surfaces.

22. A material collection system which comprises:

a. a pivotally mounted collection container having one side thereof pivoted relative to the bottom, top and three other sides, and

b. a transfer unit adapted to be propelled along a path beneath said container and of height to engage said pivoted side to tilt said container and with structure to maintain the tilt while releasing said pivoted side to discharge contents of said container as said transfer unit passes beneath said container. 

2. The collection system according to claim 1 wherein said material-receiving and material-discharging openings of said collection receptacle comprise an open top and an open side of said receptacle, respectively, and wherein means on said transfer receptacle energize said collection receptacle as it passes under said collection receptacle to pivot said collection receptacle away from said door.
 3. The system according to claim 2 wherein said collection receptacle and door are pivoted about a common axis and wherein said door is normally closed by gravity.
 4. The collection system according to claim 1 wherein leading and trailing camming surfaces on said transfer receptacle engage said collection receptacle and said door and disengage said door before disengaging said collection receptacle to empty said collection receptacle.
 5. The collection system according to claim 1 wherein a transverse roller is mounted at the leading edge of the leading camming surface of said transfer receptacle for initially engaging the collection receptacle and for initially pIvoting both the door and the receiving receptacle following which the leading camming surface restrains said receptacle and disengages said door.
 6. The collection system according to claim 1 wherein the transfer receptacle is supported by three hydraulic cylinders, one for lifting the transfer receptacle, one for tilting the transfer receptacle and one for varying the lateral positioning of the transfer receptacle.
 7. The collection system according to claim 6 wherein linkages couple said hydraulic cylinders to said transport unit and to said transfer receptacle to move the contents of the transfer receptacle into the transport unit by lifting and tilting the transfer receptacle above said transport unit to dump said transfer receptacle.
 8. A material collection system including: a. a vehicle for operation along a surface, b. a transfer receptacle mounted on said vehicle for movement along a predetermined path, c. means for normally supporting said transfer receptacle at the side of said vehicle and adjacent said surface, d. means for elevating and tilting said transfer receptacle to dump material therein into said vehicle, e. a pivotally supported collection receptacle positioned in the path of said transfer receptacle and having a dump port, f. a pivotally supported door normally closing said port, and g. means for pivoting said collection container to open said port and dump the contents into said transfer receptacle as said transfer receptacle engages said collection container during movement along said path.
 9. The collection system according to claim 8 wherein said transfer receptacle includes structure for lifting said collection receptacle away from said door and for lowering the collection receptacle into engagement with said door upon disengagement with said transfer receptacle.
 10. The collection system according to claim 9 wherein a transverse roller on said transfer receptacle initially engages said collection receptacle and said door initially to lift the said door with the receiving container.
 11. The collection system according to claim 8 wherein means are provided for varying the position of said transfer receptacle laterally with respect to the vehicle.
 12. A material collection system including: a. a collection vehicle having a material transport container, b. a material transfer receptacle mounted on the side of said vehicle and movable between a collection position and a dumping position whereat material is dumped from said transfer receptacle into said transport container, c. at least one material collection receptacle having a normally closed material dumping side, d. means for supporting said collection receptacle for engagement at said side by said transfer receptacle when said transfer receptacle is in said collection position, and e. means on said transfer receptacle for opening said normally closed material dumping side of said collection receptacle upon engagement of said transfer receptacle with said collection receptacle.
 13. The collection system according to claim 12 further including support means on said vehicle for normally supporting said transfer receptacle in said collection position and for elevating and tilting said container to said dumping position.
 14. The collection system according to claim 12 wherein said opening means comprises a pair of camming surfaces on said transfer receptacle, one positioned to open said opening the dumping side of said collection receptacle upon engagement of said transfer receptacle and the other positioned to close said dumping side upon disengagement of said transfer receptacle and said collection receptacle.
 15. The collection system according to claim 12 wherein said collection receptacle comprises a pivotally supported container having an open said and a pivotally supported door for said open side and wherein said door is normally closed by gravity.
 16. The collection system according to claim 15 wherein said transfer receptacle includes leading and trailing camming surfaces, wherein said vehicle moves said transfer receptacle under said collection receptacle and wherein said camming surfaces on said transfer receptacle open and close said door of said collection receptacle as said transfer receptacle passes under said collection receptacle.
 17. A material collection system which comprises: a. a material container having one side pivotally mounted to open and close said side of the container, b. means for pivotally mounting said container for pivotal movement about an axis in the region of the upper end of said container, c. a carriage-mounted pickup receptacle adapted to engage said container and rotate the same about said axis to receive the contents of said container as they pass through said side, d. a storage receptacle mounted for travel on said carriage, and e. means for elevating said pickup receptacle and for overturning the same to empty the contents thereof into said storage receptacle.
 18. The combination set forth in claim 17 wherein said container is of rectangular configuration with one vertically oriented side being pivoted near the upper corner of the container on said axis.
 19. The combination set forth in claim 17 in which said carriage-mounted pickup receptacle is provided with upper exposed cam surfaces and roller means for engaging said container to initially positioning said container at an angle before permitting said side to open.
 20. The combination set forth in claim 17 wherein said means for pivotally mounting said container supports said container with said upper end normally positioned at about waist level.
 21. A material collection system including a transfer receptacle comprising a bottom plate, a pair of sideplates extending upwardly from said bottom plate and each having an upwardly and forwardly facing leading camming surface and upwardly and rearwardly facing trailing camming surface formed in it, a rear plate extending upwardly from said bottom plate between said sideplates, a front plate extending upwardly from said bottom plate between said sideplates, a roller journaled between said sideplates at the leading ends of the leading camming surfaces thereof and a sloping plate extending from said roller to said front plate along said leading camming surfaces.
 22. A material collection system which comprises: a. a pivotally mounted collection container having one side thereof pivoted relative to the bottom, top and three other sides, and b. a transfer unit adapted to be propelled along a path beneath said container and of height to engage said pivoted side to tilt said container and with structure to maintain the tilt while releasing said pivoted side to discharge contents of said container as said transfer unit passes beneath said container. 